TCS and Starquest Expeditionshttp://robbreport.com/taxonomy/term/7131/all
enTCS World Travel Debuts Seven Bucket List–Worthy Itinerarieshttp://robbreport.com/luxury-travel/tcs-world-travel-debuts-seven-bucket-list-worthy-itineraries
<img src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh014fh15ps6jcq3o1p6l4.jpg" /><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh014fh15ps6jcq3o1p6l4.jpg"><div class="galleria-content clearfix" id="galleria-1">
<a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh014fh15ps6jcq3o1p6l4.jpg?itok=501JFdTD" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh014fh15ps6jcq3o1p6l4.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh014fh15ps6jcq3o1p6l4.jpg?itok=VlnLL4nz" alt="" title="Thailand" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh2b1m1ui31f0m1qrto9f5.jpg?itok=vsVX3ZbR" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh2b1m1ui31f0m1qrto9f5.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh2b1m1ui31f0m1qrto9f5.jpg?itok=HfOQpgGN" alt="" title="Machu Picchu Peru" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh37bo13cg1op7kd0137m6.jpg?itok=YRYB9IaF" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh37bo13cg1op7kd0137m6.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh37bo13cg1op7kd0137m6.jpg?itok=walDlDnd" alt="" title="Seychelles" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh41efnpi45nv13121l5b7.jpg?itok=R6fLGU8m" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh41efnpi45nv13121l5b7.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh41efnpi45nv13121l5b7.jpg?itok=jlrMdhc-" alt="" title="Bhutan" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh5s1u1t691pekr7kuv98.jpg?itok=gr8eX-yG" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh5s1u1t691pekr7kuv98.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195ulkdh5s1u1t691pekr7kuv98.jpg?itok=UT4t0ypb" alt="Photo by Kathi Humphries" title="Cambodia" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluabvb0u4tl1dn11vov1fgs4.jpg?itok=Vu01-ADW" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluabvb0u4tl1dn11vov1fgs4.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluabvb0u4tl1dn11vov1fgs4.jpg?itok=ouMEMhfy" alt="" title="Slovenia" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluac0movl611fc81ps9dh15.jpg?itok=sx5IGOL9" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluac0movl611fc81ps9dh15.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluac0movl611fc81ps9dh15.jpg?itok=1z4FwLUJ" alt="" title="India" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluac1cbh8f911gi1l261vf66.jpg?itok=28EYq8_T" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluac1cbh8f911gi1l261vf66.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluac1cbh8f911gi1l261vf66.jpg?itok=Rzm3uwK_" alt="" title="Rio de Janeiro" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluac2105m11e0m841uue1qpv7.jpg?itok=oQG0cCVl" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluac2105m11e0m841uue1qpv7.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluac2105m11e0m841uue1qpv7.jpg?itok=f8chewov" alt="" title="TCS World Travel Boeing 757" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluac3ablqfc1qar3b43vl8.jpg?itok=NYsNRE__" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluac3ablqfc1qar3b43vl8.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2014Nov/1129926//p195uluac3ablqfc1qar3b43vl8.jpg?itok=pWbxjvmo" alt="" title="TCS World Travel Boeing 757 cabin" /></a></div>
</figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even">
Jimmy Im</li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>A leading travel company that specializes in private jet travel, <strong>TCS World Travel</strong> is gearing up for its 2015 “bucket list” itineraries. The seven bespoke adventures take guests to highly sought-after, far-flung destinations and average two to three weeks. All air travel is direct and takes place aboard private Boeing 757 jets that are customized with large, plush leather seats for as many as 78 guests.</p>
<p>The themes for the itineraries include Around the World, Golf Around the World, Africa, and Eastern Europe. As you might guess, each trip visits multiple must-see destinations. Among the rare experiences are gorilla trekking in Rwanda, snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and sharing tea with Berber elders in the Atlas Mountains. Travelers will spend their nights at the finest luxury hotels and resorts, and each trip includes a private chef—sometimes one who even uses ingredients that are local to the trip’s destinations.</p>
<p>The small-group trips scheduled for 2015 start at approximately $59,950 per person, based on double occupancy. The company can also arrange private travel. (<a href="http://www.tcsworldtravel.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" >tcsworldtravel.com</a>) </p>
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<span st_url="http://robbreport.com/luxury-travel/tcs-world-travel-debuts-seven-bucket-list-worthy-itiner...Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:16:00 +0000Jimmy Im1129926 at http://robbreport.comA One-of-a-Kind Trip for History Buffs and Foodieshttp://robbreport.com/Travel/A-One-of-a-Kind-Trip-for-History-Buffs-and-Foodies
<img src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304396.jpg" /><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304396.jpg"><div class="galleria-content clearfix" id="galleria-2">
<a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304396.jpg?itok=rAJ0-Tdh" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304396.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304396.jpg?itok=MCDQMQh5" alt="" title="Golden Temple Amritsar" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304397.jpg?itok=SJz-rjsg" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304397.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304397.jpg?itok=5_g0xHGc" alt="" title="Parliament Budapest" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304398.jpg?itok=Pah7cL4k" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304398.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304398.jpg?itok=W1MiU-tH" alt="" title="West Lake Hangzhou" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304399.jpg?itok=wO1ijrh_" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304399.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304399.jpg?itok=1daKU8Zy" alt="" title="Vietnam" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304400.jpg?itok=14-5iPpO" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304400.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304400.jpg?itok=GFkQR9E4" alt="" title="Iceland" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304401.jpg?itok=qNRtDRoK" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304401.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304401.jpg?itok=wZqyyzkm" alt="" title="Beaune France" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304402.jpg?itok=gbxYgvXm" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304402.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304402.jpg?itok=4EKCyuFe" alt="" title="Making Chapatis India" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304403.jpg?itok=kYNhn8xz" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304403.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304403.jpg?itok=3e8v0GIr" alt="" title="Hungarian Wine" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304404.jpg?itok=epSbtOAP" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304404.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304404.jpg?itok=Kg4RYYQZ" alt="" title="Dhow, Oman" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304405.jpg?itok=dcokvuyZ" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304405.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304405.jpg?itok=3e6Sx6IU" alt="" title="Muscat, Oman" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304406.jpg?itok=1dqmSv_4" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304406.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2012May/1706//1304406.jpg?itok=p_KLX6xR" alt="" title="Chateau de Rully France" /></a></div>
</figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even">
<a href="/content/christina-garofalo">Christina Garofalo</a>
</li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>For those who can’t get enough history and culture, <strong>TCS and Starquest Expeditions</strong> has created a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary giving travelers unrivaled access to some of the world’s greatest treasures and cultures. From September 17 to October 5, the companywill take 76 guests by private jet on a unique tour of Iceland, Budapest, India, China, Vietnam, Oman, Greece, and France to explore some of the world’s oldest cultures through exclusive culinary and travel excursions. During the 19-day tour (from approximately $60,000 to $68,000 per person), guests will spend two to three days in each destination, accompanied by a resident historian, where they might cruise through Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay aboard a chartered ship, for instance, passing 1,600 mostly uninhabited, mountainlike islands and enjoying activities, like Tai Chi, Vietnamese cooking classes, and kayaking. Or, in Iceland, guests can drive through lava fields to explore some 100 geysers, including the famous Great Geysir, which—if you are lucky enough to see it erupt—reaches up to 200 feet.</p>
<p>Other destinations include the Mei Jia Wu tea plantation in Hangzhou, China, to watch the secret process behind making China’s most famous teas; local museums and farms on the island of Crete to bake breads and make cheese and olive oil; a historic wine-trading hub atop a maze of cellars in Burgundy, France, followed by a private tour and dinner at a historic 12th-century château; and much more. (800.454.4149, <a href="http://www.tcsandsq.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" >www.tcsandsq.com</a>)</p>
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<span st_url="http://robbreport.com/Travel/A-One-of-a-Kind-Trip...Tue, 08 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000Christina Garofalo1706 at http://robbreport.comThe Perfect 10: God Speedhttp://robbreport.com/The-Perfect-10-God-Speed.aspx
<img src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2009Jan/4895//85384.jpg" /><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2009Jan/4895//85384.jpg"><div class="galleria-content clearfix" id="galleria-3">
<a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2009Jan/4895//85384.jpg?itok=yPeGGQM_" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2009Jan/4895//85384.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2009Jan/4895//85384.jpg?itok=rJAdX_Ud" alt="" title="Stops on TCS’ itinerary can include Jerusalem’s Western Wall and the holy city of Varanasi. (shown here)." /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2009Jan/4895//648224.jpg?itok=J4v7PN0L" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2009Jan/4895//648224.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2009Jan/4895//648224.jpg?itok=1DaoTe0W" alt="" title="Stops on TCS’ itinerary can include Jerusalem’s Western Wall (shown here)." /></a></div>
</figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even">
Jennifer Hall</li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><strong>What </strong>» A pilgrimage by private jet to explore the origins of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Who </strong>» TCS Expeditions specializes in themed around-the-world trips by private jet. The Seattle-based company typically charters a Boeing 757 for its approximately 24-day-long journeys, which can accommodate as many as 74 clients at a time. "When we are hosting a couple or a group of four, there is a lot more flexibility," says Jennifer DuBois, executive director of TCS. "We would be flying a private Lear or Gulfstream V, and, depending on the client’s schedule, we can have as detailed an itinerary [as a 24-day trip would] in less time."</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>The Trip</strong> » "We based this trip on a book that National Geographic published in 2004 called <em>The Geography of Religion: Where God Lives, Where Pilgrims Walk</em>," says DuBois, who adds that one or more of the book’s authors, possibly John Esposito or Desmond Tutu, could accompany the travelers on the excursion. "Our goal would be to arrange exclusive one-to-one meetings with significant religious and political leaders throughout the journey. The beauty of a private charter is that we can find out the client’s exact interests and arrange special experiences."</p>
<p>DuBois recommends beginning the trip in Vatican City before heading to Israel, India, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Turkey. "Flying commercially, it could take you a week to get to just two of these destinations," she says. TCS will plan a minute-to-minute itinerary for each stop during the trip, but the schedule is highly flexible. For instance, says DuBois, if the party decides midflight they want to skip Vatican City and head straight to Jerusalem, TCS will do its best to honor the request. "Of course we would verify landing permits," she says, "but there is no reason it couldn’t be done."</p>
<p>Assuming Vatican City remains on the itinerary, TCS will arrange a private visit to the Vatican Museum followed by an after-hours tour of the ...Thu, 01 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000Jennifer Hall4895 at http://robbreport.comJourney to the Center of the Earthhttp://robbreport.com/Journey-to-the-Center-of-the-Earth-1.aspx
<img src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2008Jul/5096//84718.jpg" /><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2008Jul/5096//84718.jpg"><div class="galleria-content clearfix" id="galleria-4">
<a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2008Jul/5096//84718.jpg?itok=wWY8NMxr" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2008Jul/5096//84718.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2008Jul/5096//84718.jpg?itok=dX1RaeLs" alt="Photograph by Wolfgang Steiner/www.istockphoto.com" title="The dunes of the Namib Desert stretch to Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, which is named for the many shipwrecks that line its shores." /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2008Jul/5096//84719.jpg?itok=RwTwDWVn" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2008Jul/5096//84719.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2008Jul/5096//84719.jpg?itok=WSc4HPo2" alt="Photograph by Christian Knepper/Embratur" title="TCS’ private-jet journey will include a visit to Brazil’s Iguazú Falls." /></a></div>
</figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even">
Edward Readicker-Henderson</li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Each time the king pauses for a breath, the man next to him says “jhoom” in a voice that could make Barry White sound like a soprano. The king’s own tones are soft and thoughtful, punctuated by gestures from his hands, both of which are adorned with enormous rings depicting two crocodiles that share the same stomach. The figures, which form Xs across his fingers, represent the importance of cooperation.</p>
<p>The only other sounds on the palace’s wide lawn are the screams of peacocks as they scamper past fallen fruits that look like tennis balls, as though the birds might be playing fetch. Earlier, the king had his public audience, which appeared lifted from the pages of a 19th-century explorer’s diary. Drums echoed as the sun filtered through the soft reds and yellows of the huge parasols that shaded the VIPs and the lines of people who had come to pay respects, with their offerings of bleating goats and imported whiskey in tow. Take off your shoes when you approach; remember to keep your head lower than the king’s. Feel his purely benevolent power as you bow to the ruler of the Ashanti Empire in central Ghana—or, if you look at a map of Africa, the crook of the elbow on the continent’s west coast.</p>
<p>But few people ever look at that part of the map, much less travel to this part of the world. The famous safari camps are all east and south. If the west is famous at all, it is for places like Tombouctou, distant towns that have magical names with mythical connotations.</p>
<p>But these places are real. And once upon a time, much of the world revolved around them.</p>
<p>I have spent my life and career exploring the Pacific Rim. Aside from parts of Europe and North America, I am less familiar with the Atlantic Rim, where—thanks to people from Columbus to the passengers on the luxury liners of the early 20th century—modern travel was born. Their routes tied the continents together like shoelaces, Europe linking to North America from Gravesend, and that indentation of Africa reaching toward the curve of South America, like the last puz...Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:00:00 +0000Edward Readicker-Henderson5096 at http://robbreport.comJourney to the Center of the Earth: Atlantic Crossinghttp://robbreport.com/Journey-to-the-Center-of-the-Earth-Atlantic-Crossing.aspx
<img src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2008Jul/5219//84720.jpg" /><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2008Jul/5219//84720.jpg"><div class="galleria-content clearfix" id="galleria-5">
<a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2008Jul/5219//84720.jpg?itok=DBjw6pRP" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2008Jul/5219//84720.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2008Jul/5219//84720.jpg?itok=U8rkinjq" alt="" title="Stops on the tour include the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa (shown here) and the small West African nation of Burkina Faso." /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2008Jul/5219//84721.jpg?itok=L9C_iaVZ" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2008Jul/5219//84721.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2008Jul/5219//84721.jpg?itok=s1eqmovK" alt="" title="Stops on the tour include the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and the small West African nation of Burkina Faso (shown here)." /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2008Jul/5219//84722.jpg?itok=1gZABdgO" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2008Jul/5219//84722.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2008Jul/5219//84722.jpg?itok=sabeNIU7" alt="" title="Stops on the tour include the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and the small West African nation of Burkina Faso (shown here)." /></a></div>
</figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even">
Edward Readicker-Henderson</li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>TCS Expeditions (800.727.7477, <a href="http://www.tcsexpeditions.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" >www?.tcsexpeditions.com</a>) will offer its own version of an Atlantic Rim journey in January. Departing from London, the Cape to Cape tour visits Madeira Island, Portugal; Burkina Faso; Namibia; Cape Town, South Africa; Rio de Janeiro; Buenos Aires; Cape Horn in Chile; Iguazú Falls in Brazil; and Panama City. Rates for the 23-day trip begin at $54,950, including flights, accommodations, meals, and tours. (The company maintains a no-tipping policy.)</p>
<p>Travel on the Cape to Cape trip is in a specially converted Boeing 757, which carries a maximum of 74 passengers. At most stops, expedited boarding and customs make international frontiers as painless as a casual walk from one room to the next. Once on the ground, passengers break into groups, so sites are never overwhelmed and there is never a sense of being on a large group tour. Adding to the intimacy are in-flight lectures by experts on the various destinations on the itinerary.</p>
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<span st_url="http://robbreport.com/Journey-to-the-Center-of-the-Earth-Atlantic-Crossing.aspx" st_title="Journey to the Center of the Earth: Atlantic Crossing...Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:00:00 +0000Edward Readicker-Henderson5219 at http://robbreport.comFrom Religion To Bicycle Ridinghttp://robbreport.com/luxury-travel/religion-bicycle-riding
<img src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2006Jul/8783//p17u3jutr41ekotvdohp12fuhsu4.jpg" /><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2006Jul/8783//p17u3jutr41ekotvdohp12fuhsu4.jpg"><div class="galleria-content clearfix" id="galleria-6">
<a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2006Jul/8783//p17u3jutr41ekotvdohp12fuhsu4.jpg?itok=6kQRuLy9" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2006Jul/8783//p17u3jutr41ekotvdohp12fuhsu4.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2006Jul/8783//p17u3jutr41ekotvdohp12fuhsu4.jpg?itok=sS8_JE_X" alt="" /></a></div>
</figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even">
Sheila Gibson Stoodley and Mike Nolan</li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><strong>Keeping the Faith</strong></p>
<p>The first-draft itinerary for TCS Expe­ditions’ Great Faiths 2007 trip, which explores some of the world’s most sacred sites, spanned 40 days. While that duration was appealing because of its biblical implications, the Seattle tour company knew that it was untenable, and so it whittled down the journey. The inaugural trip, which will leave Rome on March 18, 2007, and conclude there on April 9, 2007, spans 24 days and covers the five most widely followed faiths—Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—as well as Shinto and Sikhism.</p>
<p>Highlights of the Great Faiths 2007 itinerary include a visit to the Vatican, where TCS hopes to arrange a private tour of the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums before you board a chartered Boeing 757 configured for 88 passengers and proceed to Israel, where you will visit the Wailing Wall, the Church of the Nativity, and the Dome of the Rock. In Varanasi, India, you will attend a sunrise Hindu prayer ceremony on the banks of the Ganges. Later that day, you will go to Sarnath, where Buddha reputedly gave his first sermon.</p>
<p>Visits to Shinto shrines in the Japanese cities of Kyoto and Nara will be followed by a stop in Lhasa, Tibet, to view the palace of the exiled Dalai Lama. Mecca is closed to those who do not practice Islam, but you will have opportunities to visit mosques in Cairo.</p>
<p>“We don’t promise to provide the answers,” says TCS president Mark Campbell, “but we do give an opportunity to visit the most important religious places on earth.”</p>
<p><strong>TCS Expeditions</strong><br />
206.727.7300<br /><a href="http://www.tcs-expeditions.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" >tcs-expeditions.com</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Peak Performance</strong></p>
<p>During its six-day Heli-Explorations in the Canadian Rockies trip, Abercrombie &amp; Kent ameliorates two of alpine hiking’s greatest impediments: distance and altitude. Each day, you board a helicopter on the grounds of Valemount Lodge, which sits in a British Columbian valley of the same name 320 miles northwest of Banff. In minutes—instead of the days it would take to reach the same destination by foot—you exit deep in the heart of the Canadian Rockies’ Cariboo mountain range, a true wilderness of serrated peaks, glaciers, and flower-filled fields patrolled, at times, by grizzly bears. Oxygen depletion is rare, as ...Sat, 01 Jul 2006 07:00:00 +0000Sheila Gibson Stoodley and Mike Nolan8783 at http://robbreport.comNew Frontiers: Libya: Shifting Sandshttp://robbreport.com/luxury-travel/new-frontiers-libya-shifting-sands
<img src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncdtd91h771jd313ip5f84.jpg" /><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncdtd91h771jd313ip5f84.jpg"><div class="galleria-content clearfix" id="galleria-7">
<a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncdtd91h771jd313ip5f84.jpg?itok=6gIq_VwT" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncdtd91h771jd313ip5f84.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncdtd91h771jd313ip5f84.jpg?itok=-RSqrN59" alt="" title="Leptis Magna’s market dates to 8 B.C. Photograph by Wolfgang Kaehler. " /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncd1mo6h2lbul1dsc1vpa5.jpg?itok=WMPAN4Vf" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncd1mo6h2lbul1dsc1vpa5.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncd1mo6h2lbul1dsc1vpa5.jpg?itok=FshCaqPO" alt="" title="A Medusa’s gaze is set in stone at the Severan Forum. Photograph by Wolfgang Kaehler." /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncd1hb1lsg1e6a1pd21msg6.jpg?itok=2c41GgZM" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncd1hb1lsg1e6a1pd21msg6.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncd1hb1lsg1e6a1pd21msg6.jpg?itok=mOkRACgI" alt="Photograph by Wolfgang Kaehler." title="The Arch of Septimius Severus (A.D. 203) honored the Roman emperor born in Leptis Magna." /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncdmg817h17851h8mt847.jpg?itok=pjUo-o1k" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncdmg817h17851h8mt847.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2006May/8732//p17udrvncdmg817h17851h8mt847.jpg?itok=oceSpzEM" alt="Photograph by Wolfgang Kaehler." title="Leptis Magna’s massive Severan Basilica (completed in A.D. 216) features four elaborately carved marble pilasters. " /></a></div>
</figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even">
Laurie Kahle</li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Antiquities expert Yousef al-Khattali recently made an archaeological discovery at Villa Silin, about 55 miles from downtown Tripoli. The late-first-century Roman villa overlooks the Mediterranean from a sandy ridge just west of Leptis Magna, one of Libya’s five UNESCO World Heritage sites and among the best preserved cities of the ancient world.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In 1974, a storm surge washed away the beach that had entombed Villa Silin for thousands of years, revealing a few roof tiles—a proverbial iceberg tip. The ensuing excavation uncovered an architectural gem comprising 20 rooms, some decorated with elaborate mosaics of the highest order, those known as emblema musivo to al-Khattali and other scholars. The scenes—formed with tiny stones and depicting activities ranging from chariot races at the nearby Leptis hippodrome to pygmies fighting crocodiles—are so finely rendered that they resemble paintings.</p>
<p>Compact yet powerful, the 50-year-old bespectacled al-Khattali gesticulates and jokes as he relays the villa’s history one warm, sunny afternoon last fall. He leads our group to an area near the home’s former gardens, squats in front of a step where some concrete has cleaved away, and points to a few painted brushstrokes depicting what appears to be a bird’s tail plumage. The image, he explains, is part of a fresco that probably was painted in the first century and then later covered with cement set with mosaic tiles—just as old wallpaper might be layered with more au courant designs. A hint of frustration tempers al-Khattali’s exuberance over his discovery, for in his current role as a tour guide, he can do little to ensure that the fresco is properly handled and preserved. However, he can warn his American charges, who are tempted to break away the crumbling veneer of concrete, that it is the only thing protecting the fresco from the ravages of sea, salt, and sun.<br />
</p>
<p>The destructive power of nature is evident throughout the villa. Stripped of their preserving sand sarcophagus and reinforced with well-intentioned but moisture-absorbing steel rods, many of the mosaics are beginning to degrade after only a few decades of exposure. While regarding the fresco fragment peeking from beneath its concrete veil, a member of our gr...Mon, 01 May 2006 07:00:00 +0000Laurie Kahle8732 at http://robbreport.comBest of the Best 2005: Adventure Travelhttp://robbreport.com/luxury-travel/best-best-2005-adventure-travel
<img src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2005Jun/8803//p17v7gn2gjanc177d160o1rk819sa4.jpg" /><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2005Jun/8803//p17v7gn2gjanc177d160o1rk819sa4.jpg"><div class="galleria-content clearfix" id="galleria-8">
<a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2005Jun/8803//p17v7gn2gjanc177d160o1rk819sa4.jpg?itok=A8AYz5yu" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2005Jun/8803//p17v7gn2gjanc177d160o1rk819sa4.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2005Jun/8803//p17v7gn2gjanc177d160o1rk819sa4.jpg?itok=CqpNs3Q-" alt="" title="Photography by Dreamstime" /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2005Jun/8803//p17v7gn2gj15k21cccif3hjs895.jpg?itok=MDwDinWy" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2005Jun/8803//p17v7gn2gj15k21cccif3hjs895.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2005Jun/8803//p17v7gn2gj15k21cccif3hjs895.jpg?itok=IH3XEZrL" alt="" title=" Photography by Mike Nolan " /></a><a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2005Jun/8803//p17v7gn2gj1aef1onnfe81s8rg576.jpg?itok=zW2Ip1f7" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2005Jun/8803//p17v7gn2gj1aef1onnfe81s8rg576.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2005Jun/8803//p17v7gn2gj1aef1onnfe81s8rg576.jpg?itok=brBMrrZn" alt="" /></a></div>
</figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><ul class="field-items"></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Like the world that it has been traversing for the past 14 years, TCS Expeditions, the Seattle, Wash., company that specializes in private jet journeys, continually presents new experiences for travelers. TCS’s current menu includes around-the-world tours with stops in such exotic locations as Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Easter Island in the South Pacific, trips that highlight natural wonders such as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Peruvian Amazon, and voyages that examine in depth one country, such as China. A year from now, many of the present itineraries will have changed, at least in part, and some will no longer be offered at all.<br />
<br />
TCS sometimes alters its offerings in response to geopolitical situations. Such is the case with this year’s Journey to History’s Lost Cities trip, which has added Libya, a country that was considered off-limits to tourism for most of the 1980s and 1990s. Other itinerary changes are related to TCS’s business strategy rather than current events. “We don’t typically offer the same itineraries for more than two or three years in a row,” says Mark Campbell, president of the company. “We allow them to rest for a year or so.”</p>
<p>This year’s Around Africa private jet trip is well rested: The company last offered an Africa journey in 2002. The 2005 version, which departs from Boston on August 31 and returns September 22, provides a uniquely comprehensive tour of the continent. Travelers will explore the markets of Marrakech, Morocco; stroll among the majestic ruins of Luxor, Egypt; ponder the origins of the human race in the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania; ride the Blue Train in South Africa; visit Victoria Falls in Zambia; and spend time in remote Timbuktu, Mali, deep in the Sahara. They will also have numerous chances to view wild animals: endangered lemurs in Madagascar, flamingos in Namibia, penguins in South Africa, and leopards, zebras, giraffes, and elephants at the Okavango Delta in Botswana and at Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.</p>
<p>Passengers will travel from each of the 10 featured countries (a stop at Portugal’s Madeira Island is also included) to the next on a Boeing 757 with an interior that has been reconfigured to seat 88 people instead of the standard layout’s 233. The starting price for a ticket is $43,000. “You could never do this trip in three weeks on commercial airlines,” says Jennifer DuBois, TCS’s director of operations and product development. “And if you could, the cost would be amazing. This is actually a bargain, when you look at it.” <br />
—Sheila Gibson Stoodley</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>TCS Expeditions</strong>, 206.727.730...Wed, 01 Jun 2005 07:00:00 +00008803 at http://robbreport.comPrivate Travel: Plane and Simplehttp://robbreport.com/luxury-travel/private-travel-plane-and-simple
<img src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2004Jan/6548//p180ocvr35oavls1cae1e1819ne4.jpg" /><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2004Jan/6548//p180ocvr35oavls1cae1e1819ne4.jpg"><div class="galleria-content clearfix" id="galleria-9">
<a href="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/galleria_full/public/images/articles/2004Jan/6548//p180ocvr35oavls1cae1e1819ne4.jpg?itok=Jcy9tYG5" rel="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2004Jan/6548//p180ocvr35oavls1cae1e1819ne4.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-watch-collector-148x173" src="http://robbreport.com/sites/default/files/styles/watch_collector_148x173/public/images/articles/2004Jan/6548//p180ocvr35oavls1cae1e1819ne4.jpg?itok=Nzyf_y6C" alt="" title="In-flight amenities such as champagne and caviar make getting to Bora Bora almost as enjoyable as being there." /></a></div>
</figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even">
Sheila Gibson Stoodley</li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>This was not going to be just any vacation for this family of 10 from California. Wanting to enjoy an experience unlike any they had ever known, the group, which ranged in age from 25 to 65, decided that together they would see the world, or as much of it as possible, in a span of 30 days. They could not have hoped for more than what they received.</p>
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<p>When their monthlong journey concluded, they had visited four continents and eight different destinations. Abercrombie &amp; Kent, a 41-year-old travel company based in Oak Brook, Ill., created an itinerary that took the family to Bora Bora, Australia, Vietnam, Botswana, Brazil, Peru, the Galápagos, and the Maldives. They traveled aboard a variety of aircraft, including a Cessna Citation II, a fanjet prized for its ability to run quietly and take off from short airstrips. “Our offices came up with different itineraries in each place, depending on what each person wanted to do,” says Pamela Lassers, Abercrombie &amp; Kent’s director of media relations. The company selected a Cessna Citation II to ferry the group from one destination to another because of its versatility. “It can fly into smaller airports than most business jets can,” she explains. “In the case of the Maldives, having a private jet is a plus because it is so hard to reach.”</p>
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<p>Abercrombie &amp; Kent is among a handful of travel companies that offer scheduled trips to the world’s most exotic locations while also designing custom jet-based journeys on demand. Drawing on their experience and resources, these companies can create complicated, multistop trips to far-flung places, and some can even supply expert guest lecturers, tour leaders, and local guides. Generally speaking, anything that is offered through a scheduled trip can be had on a private trip. </p>
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Seattle-based TCS Expeditions, for example, designed an 18-day turn-of-the-millennium tour of Asia for a family group of 37 that ranged in age from 3 to 65. The vacation included stops in India, Nepal, Cambodia, and Thailand. Along with scheduling all of the flights (which included arranging multiple departures to India from various locations throughout the United States), TCS provided two tour directors who traveled with the group throughout the trip, and it planned sight-seeing excursions that were customized for the different age groups in the party. The company also supplied a wealth of amenities—including stationery kits, printed itineraries, and backpacks—that were branded with a personalized trip logo. In addition to all of this, TCS arranged a traditional Christmas turkey dinner in India and a New Year’s Eve celebration at the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. During the course of the trip, several different a...Thu, 01 Jan 2004 08:00:00 +0000Sheila Gibson Stoodley6548 at http://robbreport.comJourneys: Bones of Contentionhttp://robbreport.com/luxury-travel/journeys-bones-contention
<img src="http://robbreport.com/" /><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even">
Sheila J. Gibson</li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-fulltext"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>It is just after 9 o’clock on a Sunday morning, and our group of two dozen is making its way to a room in the basement of a museum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The route is short, but it’s lined with animal skulls, fossils, and other alluring exhibits, each one tempting us to stop and examine it. All of us are curious—some even enthralled—by the study of human origins, so asking us to resist and press forward is tantamount to suggesting that a compulsive shopper stroll down Rodeo Drive and ignore the display windows. Succumbing to these temptations, however, will leave us less time for what we really came here to see.</p>
<p>The group leaders, ever mindful of the clock, nudge us toward our destination, where Ian Tattersal is waiting patiently for everyone to file into the room. Tattersall is an expert on physical anthropology and human evolution anthropology, a curator at the American Museum of Natural History, and the author of several popular books on human origins. Slender, bearded, and casually clad, the 57-year-old Tattersall stands over a glass case containing a human skeleton. It is missing half its pelvis, its right femur, and everything below the left knee, and its cranium is a constellation of bone fragments, but it is intact enough to sketch the framework of a human shape.</p>
<p>“Ladies and gentlemen,” Tattersall announces as the group members close in around the case, “please meet Lucy.” In life, he explains, Lucy was quite petite: She would have had to stand on her tiptoes to peek inside the 3-foot-tall case that holds her bones, which suggests much about how she and her fellow hominids lived 3.2 million years ago. Hominids, Tattersall explains, are members of the primate family Hominidae, the same family to which <em>Homo sapiens</em> belongs. After we arrived on the scene roughly 40,000 years ago, our Neanderthal cousins eventually vanished, leaving us as the only Hominidae. This, Tattersall informs the group, constitutes an odd development in the natural world. Usually, the appearance of a new species does not mean the elimination of existing spec...Fri, 01 Nov 2002 08:00:00 +0000Sheila J. Gibson5741 at http://robbreport.com